The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed banks to stop deducting USSD transaction charges from customers’ bank accounts.
Effective June 3, 2025, these charges will now be billed directly from users’ mobile airtime balances.
This directive aligns with NCC’s End-User Billing (EUB) model, which shifts responsibility for USSD billing from banks to mobile network operators. Under the new model, each USSD session will cost ₦6.98 per 120 seconds; users will receive a consent prompt before charges are applied.
Customers may discontinue USSD banking if they prefer not to incur airtime charges.
This change is part of the NCC’s efforts to resolve a prolonged ₦250 billion USSD debt crisis between telecom operators and banks.
In early 2025, NCC ordered the disconnection of USSD codes of nine banks over unpaid dues.
